Pennsylvania Criminal Defense

We all know how much pets can mean to their owners and caretakers. Pets can seem like another member of the family. Unfortunately, when a household harbors domestic violence, pets can become both the victims and the pawns...

We understand: a Pennsylvania protection from abuse proceeding can be a rollercoaster of roiling emotions. Learning that a spouse or other intimate partner plans to ask the court to restrain you, even to evict you from your house...

Helping another is generally a good thing. But helping another do what it would be illegal for them to do on their own is usually not a good thing. And when that assistance is to obtain a firearm for that other person who cannot...

Learning that an estranged spouse or intimate partner has gotten a Pennsylvania protection-from-abuse (PFA) order against one can be extremely upsetting. Usually, though, the PFA plaintiff who got the order is nowhere near when...

If you have a PFA order filed against you, you quickly find out there are a lot of things that you’re no longer able to do. A PFA is a “protection from abuse” order, also known as an order of protection. It’s...

Getting served with a PFA is a very serious issue. A PFA is a protective order that orders the respondent to stay away from the petitioner who requested the order. PFAs, also known as orders of protection, are granted to...

One of the most important things in the world when it comes to a PFA is the belief that being in possession of one helps protect the person who filed for the order (the petitioner) from the person they’re seeking protection...

One of the most contentious parts of the American justice system is the cash bail system. Cash bail is money that defendants have to pay as a deposit so that they can stay out of jail until their trials. The problem with cash bail...

A PFA is a protective order that someone files when they fear harm from another person. The PFA stipulates that the respondent may not approach, contact, or communicate in any way with the petitioner. These types of orders...

Domestic violence is one of the most devastating crimes facing our country today. It rips apart families, and it destroys everyone involved on physical, emotional, and mental levels. When you add alcohol and drugs into the mix,...

When it comes to domestic abuse, one of the biggest issues on the docket is the incidence of re-offenders. Many people accused of domestic violence go on to re-abuse. If you’ve been accused of domestic violence, the odds are...

Expungement is a process that erases past criminal convictions from the court system. Details vary by state, but there are several types of crimes that can be expunged, including shoplifting, disorderly conduct, drug...

If you have the PFA filed against you, you have an order against you that prohibits you from contacting in any way the petitioner who filed for the order. A PFA is a court order that protects the petitioner from harm from the...

Dating is one of the most exciting times of life. It’s an opportunity to meet someone new, engage in activities the both of you like, and possibly work towards building a future together. What if you have a PFA on your...

When someone is convicted of a crime, the record of that crime goes on their public record. This can be a very difficult situation for many people who are trying to get past mistakes that they’ve made in the past. Past crime...

A Protection From Abuse Order, or PFA, is a civil proceeding in Pennsylvania that protects a plaintiff from communication and harassment by a defendant. It is similar to a restraining order that a judge issues when they believe...

When Bianca Finizio Rudolph went on an overseas safari trip with her husband Lawrence, she didn’t know that it would end in her untimely death. The Pennsylvania couple, who describe themselves as big game hunters, traveled...

Recently, the Pennsylvania State Board of Pardons returned a split decision regarding the clemency of 42-year-old inmate, Felix Ocasio. Twenty-two years ago, Ocasio was sentenced to between about 39 years and 78 years behind bars,...

When should an individual seek clemency for the crime they were convicted of? It might surprise you to learn that the leader of a large drug organization is actively seeking clemency from the state of Pennsylvania. At first...

Pennsylvania Protection from Abuse Orders (PFAs) are put into place by Pennsylvania judges. That said, just because the PFA was made in a Pennsylvania court doesn’t mean it won’t apply to people who live out of state....